Fiordland

What you need to take on day trips

Our weather is very changeable so always carry a raincoat and warm clothing as well as having cooler clothes and sun screen. Take plenty of drinking water on summer walks. Insect repellent strongly recommended! We can lend you a day pack and a thermos or a billy (a pot for boiling water in if you visit one of the Great Walks huts in the park - they have gas).

Short Visit Itinerary (things I wouldn't want you to miss)

Allow a full day of your holiday to visit either Doubtful or Milford Sound. There is no public road access to Doubtful Sound, so you will need to take a tour that leaves from Manapouri. If going to Milford you can drive yourself or take a large coach or small bus tour from Te Anau. If driving, allow two and a half hours to get to Milford Sound and plan to take plenty of short walks and sightseeing stops. The cheapest boat cruises are around $60 per person. If you are on a tight budget, it is entirely worthwhile going to Milford for the drive alone.

Allow at least one day to take a forest or alpine walk (or a number of short walks and drives). The famous Kepler Track begins just five kilometres from Te Anau and gives the opportunity for short and long walks. One popular option involves a boat trip to Brod Bay on Lake Te Anau. From here it is a beautiful and undemanding 11 km walk back to town through national park and lakeside reserve. A helihike option is also popular and involves being landed by helicopter on the slopes of Mount Luxmore, and spending time on the mountain before walking down to meet a water taxi for transport back to town.

Access to the national park and daytime use of facilities like huts is free of charge.

We don't boast a lot of night life in our little town, but night trips to the glowworm caves across Lake Te Anau are fun and the Fiordland film, Ata Whenua (Shadowlands) is a must-do. This film is 35 minutes long and shows at the Fiordland Cinema in the town centre.

Guests planning to stay longer in Fiordland will have no trouble filling their days if they enjoy sightseeing, photography, walking, birdwatching, trout fishing or just relaxing in a beautiful and peaceful environment.